On Tuesday Jimmy Awagl and I representing SWA met with Mr Kunda in his office at Kondom Agaundo House in Kundiawa.

After firing some missiles at us on past matters he wasn’t happy about, the Administrator acknowledged the work that SWA and Simbu Children Foundation have being doing for Simbu and said great things can be achieved through partnership, the right ethics, diplomacy and following proper protocols.

“You must also understand that I am not running one little organisation. My office is looking after the entire province hence many times this office is very busy,” he said.

Mr Kunda (left) added that the Kundiawa-Noosa partnership, under the working title of Project Wantok (Project Friendship), is a good proposal and appointed events coordinator Jack Kupa to work with us.

He said he wanted to be kept up to date with progress as we move along.

Jimmy and I left Mr Kunda’s office satisfied with the outcome after a long struggle to establish an effective understanding with the provincial administration and governor.

We believe that ordinary Simbus can benefit greatly from sister town relationship in the areas of tourism, education, culture, arts literature.

If anyone is going to make that happen, it’s Keith Jackson, whose presence in the province in early March provides a golden opportunity that we Simbus should not let slip away.

Immediately after our meeting with the administrator, SWA executives convened another consultation at Mt Wilhelm Hotel and thoroughly briefed Jack Kupa on the visit of Keith and his family and the Kundiawa-Noosa concept.

Mr Kupa said he was impressed and would report to Joe Kunda recommending a role for the provincial government and what they could do to assist.

We agreed to have regular meetings to get the groundwork underway leading up to the arrival of Keith and family.

Then yesterday, Jack rang and said he had personally briefed the Governor Noah Kool, who was very happy. He instructed Jack to immediately put a budget together for receiving Keith and family and follow up on the partnership initiative.

We are very happy the Governor Noah Kool has recognised the importance of the Jackson’s visit and is also supportive of maintaining and diversifying the relationship into other areas of mutual benefit between our two countries.

None of the SWA members have knowledge or experience about the protocols involved in such relationship. But we strongly believe that a relationship with Australia, particularly with the people of Noosa, should expand beyond literature so many lives are touched and changed.

One opportunity is this kind of relationship and we believe it can happen. Can we make it happen?

The SWA executive wishes to thank everyone who has supported our endeavour to engage with the provincial government. Your support and prayers have borne fruit.